Winter - Not So Bad!

 We were told winter is cold,  dark and bleak plus it goes on and on. However, unlike the eastern side of the continent, we have had a very mild winter.

  January was a month of fog. Rays came through the trees this way...

..and that way...

..and then this way.

One day an amazing fog bank formed between us and Marnia and Cortes Islands.

 As it began to clear, the tips of Cortes appeared.

A foggy day at the beach.

Suddenly fog began to slip away.

All was calm and all was bright.

We had Mia and John, Gary and Josie, Bart and Berta, Linda and Wally over for dinner and a welcome to Canada celebration, complete with gifts, broke out.

Buck watching TV with his new girl friend - thanks to Bart and Berta Fletcher

A group of my gal pals come over for a pot luck and a hooray for Permanent Residency celebration.

A few of the wonderful and hilarious gifts they brought for us.

Aine's second birthday - she has a doctor kit and is cutting Buck's finger off.

Saoirse singing a tune.

Watching kids on the trampoline.

The very excited birthday girl.

The Community Centre full of kids, teachers, parents and volunteers on Literacy Day. I did theater games with several groups of kids. Fun.

Baby winter lamb down the road.

Two trumpeter swans floated by one day. A rare sigh in these waters I am told.

Guess what came back.

A coupe of days later - sunshine for the start of our trip to Deer Valley, Utah.

Quadra from the air.  Gowlland Harbour on the near side of the island and Rebecca Spit on the far side.

Vancouver

Not sure which mountain this is but it is pretty.

We arrived at Perry and Sally Sorenson's home wearing our finest Canadian attire and trying to sing Oh Canada.

Sally, Buck and Doni hot tubbing on a sunny afternoon.

Settling the world's problems..Dave Hall to the left and Dee Lowrey between the two of us.

Super Bowl..Perry, Buck, Dave and Dee..Sally doing a jigsaw puzzle.

Beautiful frost

The whole gang: Sally and Dave Hall, us, Lizzy and Dee Lowrey, Sally and Perry Sorenson.

Cross Country skiing is hot work, but fun.

Here come Sally and Dave

Heading home after 6 wonderful days - some downhill and some cross country skiing and lots of good times. There's that mountain again.

Fishing boat and its feathered entourage.

One of the neighborhood deer

Our mountains on a sunny, chilly evening.

Despite the sunshine, it is still winter.

Who lifted that tree up there? Paul Bunyan's grandson?

When the rain cleared after a couple of days we were treated to the sight of lots of fresh snow on the mountains.

Off we went again - this time to Hawaii. There are Honolulu and Pearl Harbors.

Dinner with some of the Galloping Gourmets (missing Sally and Perry Sorenson.) Back row: Roger Whitlock, Judy Van Zile Front row Buck, Doni, Pete VanZile.

And there is Claudia Whitlock.

The dim sum gang: Doni, Carole Tarlington, Wendy Grant, Lizzy Lowrey and Roie from Australia

Dee Lowrey, Carole, Buck

Off to the Big Island to stay in Hawi with Sarah and Randy Stoddard. Photo of their crater at Puu Pueo (Owl Hill.)

One of the beautiful green hills of the Kohala/Waimea area.

Morning at Puu Pueo

Buck whale watching.

Sarah whale watching.

Whale! One of the many we saw. It was very exciting.

Randy, Sarah and Buck

The volcano haze lifted and we could see Hualalai Mt. wearing a lei of clouds.. A treat to be sure!

Sarah being coached by Mousse.

Back to Honolulu - Wendy, Doni and Cosette at Hill Top House.

Koolau Mts from Hill Top House

Kailua beach from Hill Top

The From Here To Eternity beach next to the blow hole..one of Thad's favorites.

Sorenson's house our home while home:) Thanks Perry and Sally!

A visit to 3290 - Erin and Jed Gushman are taking good care of the place

Thursday at Foster gardens with the painting group. Doni with dear sweet Meg Stone.

Everyone shares their work at lunch time. Mine are the heron and the two to the left of it.

The gazebo and the artists
It was a great trip to Hawaii. We were able to connect with friends and get caught up with what is happening in their lives.

After Hawaii I recuperated at Kingfisher resort with some friends. Perri, Karen, Shirley and Gail.

Cate, Doni, Carol, Perry, Gail and Perri

Carol and Gail in the uniform of the day(s)

A unique way to get your RV up north.

Chef Buck presenting his delicious pork chops.

I came home one afternoon to see this all set up for the chef to make a shrimp pasta dish - also delicious.

Baby goats! Triplets and two sets of twins. Saoirse petting on of the babies.

Saoirse and Aine in goat heaven.

Cute!

More cute!

Mama, papa and some of the babies.

The fence is doing its job: deer out, garden in!

A beautiful sunrise. Days are longer, temperatures are warmer, buds are budding and robins bobbing...spring is on its way. Stay tuned for spring flinging.